Rahul Gandhi attacks BJP, RSS over communal violence

Thane: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused the BJP-led opposition of spurring communal and ethnic violence as a tool to electoral victory.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi. File pic

At a public rally in Sonale village near Bhiwandi in Thane district, Rahul Gandhi reiterated the allegation against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), accusing the organisation of killing Mahatma Gandhi.

"The RSS shot and killed Mahatma Gandhi. Now they (BJP) are adopting their (RSS) principles and speaking about them. Sardar Patel was a Congress leader and he clearly wrote about the RSS. It opposed Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel. Now, they are appropriating the Congress ideology and its leaders," Rahul Gandhi said.

A day earlier, Gandhi had said in Aurangabad that "the Congress would send the Bharatiya Janata Party packing with love".

Bhiwandi is a Muslim-dominated town, which was in the past hit by communal riots.

Gandhi said the Congress has always taken along all sections of society, the rich and poor, and people of all religions to ensure that the fruits of development reached everyone.

"When we speak of the MNREGA or RTI, is it only for one community or religion? We believe it should be for all. Wherever the opposition goes, they create a rift between Hindus and Muslims, between one region and another. We believe in taking everyone together to take the country forward," Gandhi said.

He said the Congress was born in Maharashtra, and the party's ideology was inspired by the Bhagwad Gita, "the one Shivaji, Ashoka and (Mahatma) Gandhi spoke about".

"We listen to all - the poor, tribals, minorities and all factions - as they are in India and contributing to the country's growth and progress."

Taking a dig at the BJP's attempts to project Narendra Modi as a one-man army capable of solving all problems, Gandhi said the Congress believes in the "power of the poor".

"What has been done in the past 60 years, they (BJP) say they will do it in three months. Who was responsible for all this development? You - the farmers and the poor, the people of the state and country - not just the Congress. I can never say that only one person took India forward, that will be wrong," he said.

With the public rally, the Congress leader wound up his two-day visit to Maharashtra. He visited Dhule, Aurangabad, Mumbai and Thane.

10 Comments

Sriram07-Mar-2014

Young generation dont belive congress party.Think for inflation and corruption .Remember the Ideot Rahul gandhi opnly told poverty is mind of people and another congress person told Rs 12 you can have meals in Mumabi,One samosa cant eat at Rs12/-.Dont belive congress.Narendra MODI born in poor family he can understand a poor family heart.Rahul gandhi born with golden spon and studied in abroad.Please vote once MODI we already vote 40years for congress.See rahul gandhi only meeting poor family for vote but he and their family running india he can reduce the price so the same poor can survive with good life.please vote once for MODI Jai hind.....

Aman Mehra07-Mar-2014

I think all over India people know that RSS shot and killed Mahatma Gandhi. Now BJP are adopting RSS' principles and speaking about them. Both were associated in some communal violence.

Deepak Batra07-Mar-2014

Rahul said correct ! MNREGA or RTI, is not only for one community or religion? It is for all. But i have seen BJP create a rift between Hindus and Muslims, between one region and another. This is not acceptable.

Aashi Saxena07-Mar-2014

RSS/ BJP are usually know for their politics on negativity, opportunism and communal lines. What Rahul has said are all historical truth and no one can deny this fact that Gandhiji was killed by a follower of RSS.

Lily Khanna07-Mar-2014

This is a truth and should know by every citizen of India that Nathu Ram godse was a follower of RSS ideology which made him to take such an harsh step which is to kill Gandhiji... this is our bad fortune to have such a Sangh in our country which provoke people to do such a Blunder..

Kush Arora07-Mar-2014

Rahul is factually correct... As Sardar Patel charged, the poisonous atmosphere created in the country by the RSS was responsible for Gandhiji's assassination. Nathuram Godse's brother revealed that the RSS was like a second home for the Godse brothers.

Abhinav Sharma07-Mar-2014

It has been BJP's strategy from many years of spurring communal and ethnic violence as a tool to electoral victory. RSS possesses negativity. It is responsible for many riots and violence.

Deepak Batra07-Mar-2014

BJP and RSS are appropriating the Congress ideology and its leaders. People know the real intentions of BJP. RSS has been involved in Samjhauta Express blasts. What has Modi to say about it ?

Aman Mehra07-Mar-2014

I don't think BJP has done anything concrete in the past. It failed to even survive. But, congress has always taken along all sections of society, the rich and poor, and people of all religions to ensure that the fruits of development reached everyone.

Abhinav Sharma07-Mar-2014

It is really wrong that BJP is using Mahatma Gandhi's name to shine it's image. Mahatma Gandhi was against violence and most of the times BJP members were found into fights and in the hooliganism manner.